Closure latch

ABSTRACT

A vehicle body door lock includes a fork bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, a detent mounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positions with respect to the bolt, and outside operating means which are selectively coupled and uncoupled with respect to the detent. An inside remote lever is swingably mounted on the frame and connected to the inside remote handle for movement in opposite directions upon corresponding movement of the remote handle. A detent release lever is coaxially mounted with the remote lever and has a foot overlying the detent. A connecting link is connected at one end to the release lever and the other end of the link mounts a pin slidable in a slot of a connecting lever coaxially mounted with the remote lever and release lever. The connecting lever is positionable in connected and disconnected positions and respectively located in each position by an overcenter coil torsion spring and the engagement of tabs of the lever with the detent and the frame. When the connecting lever is in connected position, the pin of the connecting link is engageable by a foot of the remote lever to move the release lever into engagement with the detent and release the detent upon movement of the remote lever in one direction by the remote handle. When the detent is moved by the bolt, the detent engages the positioning tab of the connecting lever to move the lever to disconnected position and move the pin of the connecting link out of the path of the remote lever foot. Movement of the remote lever by the remote handle in an opposite direction engages a foot of the remote lever with the positioning tab of the connecting lever to move the connecting lever to connected positions.

United States Patent Brockman et al.

[54] CLOSURE LATCH [72] Inventors: Henry J. Brockman, Warren; BelaSandor,

Detroit, both of Mich.

Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney-W. E. Finken and HerbertFurman 57 ABSTRACT A vehicle body door lock includes a fork bolt mountedon the frame for movement between latched and unlatched positions, adetent mounted on the frame for movement between hold- [451 July 25,1972 ing and released positions with respect to the bolt, and outsideoperating means which are selectively coupled and uncoupled with respectto the detent. An inside remote lever is swingably mounted on the frameand connected to the inside remote handle for movement in oppositedirections upon corresponding movement of the remote handle. A detentrelease lever is coaxially mounted with the remote lever and has a footoverlying the detent. A connecting link is connected at one end to therelease lever and the other end of the link mounts a pin slidable in aslot of a connecting lever coaxially mounted with the remote lever andrelease lever. The connecting lever is positionable in connected anddisconnected positions and respectively located in each position by anovercenter coil torsion spring and the engagement of tabs of the leverwith the detent and the frame. When the connecting lever is in connectedposition, the pin of the connecting link is engageable by a foot of theremote lever to move the release lever into engagement with the detentand release the detent upon movement of the remote lever in onedirection by the remote handle. When the detent is moved by the bolt,the detent engages the positioning tab of the connecting lever to movethe lever to disconnected position and move the pin of the connectinglink out of the path of the remote lever foot. Movement of the remotelever by the remote handle in an opposite direction engages a foot ofthe remote lever with the positioning tab of the connecting lever tomove the connecting lever to connected positions.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 25 m2 sum 1 0F 2 INVENTORS.

. a HearyZB/ocimz 5 Be/a Sandor MW ATTORNEY PA'TENTEDJULZS 1912 3579.251

INTENT] )RS.

ATTORNEY CLOSURE LATCH This invention relates to closure latches andmore particularly to vehicle body door locks of the type wherein closingmovement of the door automatically disconnects the inside release means.

The door lock of this invention includes a coupling arrangement betweenthe inside remote handle and the detent whereby closing movement of thedoor automatically disconnects the remote handle from the detent.Further, the door lock includes a resetting arrangement whereby movementof the remote handle in a direction opposite its normal direction ofmovement serves to reconnect the remote handle with the detent. Thus,the remote handle is automatically disconnected each time the door isclosed but can be selectively connected by an occupant of the vehiclewhen desired in a very simple and expeditious manner and withoutrequiring the operation of any other operating means.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide animproved vehicle body door lock having a coupling arrangement forautomatically disconnecting the remote handle from the detent each timethat the door is closed and being selectively operable by movement ofthe remote handle in a direction opposite its normal direction ofmovement to reconnect the remote handle and the detent.

This and other objects of the door lock of this invention will bereadily apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a vehicle body embodying adoor lock according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partially broken away view taken generally alongthe plane indicated byline 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the bolt in latchedposition and the coupling arrangement connecting the remote handle tothe detent;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken generally along the plane indicated byline 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicatedbyline 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view of the coupling arrangement when the remote handle isreleasing the detent;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the coupling arrangementdisconnecting the remote handle from the detent; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the coupling arrangement disconnectingthe remote handle and detent.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a vehicle body designatedgenerally 10 includes a front door 12 swingably mounted adjacent itsforward edge 14 on the body for movement between a closed position asshown and an open position, not shown. Door 12 is held in closedposition by a door lock designated generally 16 according to thisinvention.

The door lock 16 is best shown over-all in FIGS. 2 and 7, and, exceptfor the coupling arrangement, is similar to that shown and described inFox et al. US Pat. No. 3,190,682, issued June 22, I965 and assigned tothe assignee of this inventron.

Generally the lock 16 includes a main frame 18 and an auxiliary frame 20which is staked at various places22 to the main frame. A fork bolt 24 isswingably mounted on a pivot pin 26, extending between the main andauxiliary frames, for movement between a latched position shown in FIG.2, wherein the bolt engages a conventional headed striker pin 27, and anunlatched position counterclockwise thereof. A coil torsion spring 28 ismounted on the pivot pin 26 and hooked between the main frame and thebolt to continuously bias the bolt to unlatched position. The detent 30is on a pin 32, extending between the main and auxiliary frames, formovement between a detented position as shown, wherein the detent foot34 engages a shoulder 36 of the bolt, and an undetented position, notshown, wherein the detent foot 34 is out of engagement with the boltshoulder 36 or a second bolt shoulder 37 and engages an edge portion 38of the bolt upon movement of the bolt to unlatched position. The detentis conventionally biased to detented position by a torsion spring asshown.

An outside door handle assembly 40, FIG. 1, includes a conventional pushbutton assembly having a push rod 42 indicated in FIG. 2. The push rod42 is adapted to engage a lateral flange of an outside operating lever44 which is pivoted at 46 on an extension 48 of the main frame 18. Acoil torsion spring 50 on the pivot 46 is hooked between a notchedlateral tab 52 of extension 48 and a notched tab 54 of an intermittentlever 56. The intermittent lever is pivotally and slidably connected at58 to the lever 44 by means of a slot in the lever 44 and an offset tabof the intermittent lever. The action of the spring 50 engages an edgeof a slot 60 in the lever 44 with the tab 52 to normally locate thelevers 44 and 56 as shown. The lower end of the intermittent member 56includes a lateral tab 62 which normally underlies a shoulder 64 of thedetent 30. Shifting movement of the lever 66 upwardly by the lever 44engages tab 62 and shoulder 64 to move the detent to released positionagainst the action of its biasing spring.

A locking lever 66 pivoted at 68 to the auxiliary frame is movablebetween an unlocked position, as shown, and a locked position slightlyclockwise thereof. The locking lever is selectively and alternatelylocated in eachposition by engagement of a lateral tab 70 of theauxiliary frame with opposite edges of a notch 72 in the locking lever.An overcenter type coil torsion spring 74 alternately biases the lockinglever to either position. When the locking lever is in locked position,tab 62 is located to the left of shoulder 64 to uncouple theintermittent member 56 from the detent 30. A conventional garnish buttonassembly 76 is provided to move the locking lever 66 between locked andunlocked positions.

The coupling arrangement of this invention includes an inside remotelever 78, FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7, pivoted at 80 on a lateral flange 82 ofthe auxiliary frame 20. A shiftable rod 84 connects the lever 78 with aninside remote handle 86, FIG. 1. which is movable eithercounterclockwise or clockwise of its position shown to thereby eitherrespectively release the detent 30 or reconnect the inside remote handleand the detent as will be described. A detent release lever 88 is alsopivoted to the flange 82 at 80 and includes a foot 90 which overlies anextension or leg 92 of the detent 30. A coupling lever 94 is coaxiallypivoted at 80 with the inside remote lever 78 and the detent releaselever 88 and includes a foot 96 which underlies the extension 92 of thedetent 30.

A coupling link 98 has its upper end pivoted at 100 to the release lever88. The lower end of the link 98 mounts a headed pin 102 which isslidably received within a closed slot 104 of the coupling lever 94. Anovercenter type coil torsion spring 106 is hooked between the couplinglever 94 and the flange 82 to selectively and alternately bias the lever94 between a coupled position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, wherein foot96 engages the lower edge of extension 92 of the detent 30 and anuncoupled position, shown in FIG. 6, wherein a lateral tab 108 of thelever 94 engages the frame 20.

When the coupling lever 94 is in coupled position shown in FIGS. 3 and7, and the inside remote handle 86 is rotated counterclockwise as viewedin FIG. 1, a foot 110 .of the lever 78 will engage the shank of the pin102 to shift link 98 upwardly as shown in FIG. 5. This rotates the lever88 clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5. The engagement of foot 90 oflever 88 with the extension 92 of detent 30 rotates the detent 30clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 and moves the detent foot 34 out ofengagement with the shoulder 36 to permit the bolt 24 to move tounlatched position. Thus the door 12 can be moved to open position.

Assume now that the door I2 is in open position and that the occupantcloses the door. As the door is closed, the engagement of bolt 24 withthe shank of the striker pin 27 will rotate the bolt clockwise, asviewed in FIG. 2, from its unlatched position, not shown, toward latchedposition. As the bolt rotates, the engagement and disengagement ofshoulder 37 of the bolt with the detent foot 34 will intermittentlyswing the detent 30 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2. Such intermittentmovement of the detent will move the extension 92 downwardly as viewedin FIGS. 3 and 7. The engagement of the extension with the foot 96 oflever 94 will swing the lever clockwise of its FIG. 3 position. Thiswill move spring 106 overcenter as tab 108 engages frame 20 to positionthe lever 94 as shown in FIG. 6. As lever 94 moves to this position, thecamming action of slot 104 on pin 102 moves pin 102 downwardly of slot104 and rotates link 88 clockwise to position the pin out of the path ofthe foot 110 of the remote lever 78. Accordingly, the inside remotehandle 86 is automatically disconnected from the detent each time thatthe door is closed without requiring that the operator perform anyconscious effort other than closing the door.

When the door is in closed position and an occupant thereafter desiresto leave the vehicle, he first rotates the inside remote handle 86slightly clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 6, thisclockwise movement of the remote handle will result in counterclockwisemovement of the lever 78 to engage a lateral tab 112 of the remote leverwith the foot 96 of the lever 94. This rotates the lever 94counterclockwise from its FIG. 6 position to its FIG. 3 position asspring 106 moves overcenter and foot 96 engages extension 92. Pin 102 isagain located in the path of the remote lever foot 1 10. A tab 114 oflever 88 engages flange 82 and locates the lever 88 against clockwisemovement when lever 98 moves counterclockwise. Thereafter, uponcounterclockwise movement of the remote handle, the detent will be movedout of engagement with the bolt as previously described.

Thus, this invention provides an improved door lock wherein the insideremote handle is automatically disconnected from the detent each timethat the door is closed and is selectively reconnected by a slightmovement of the remote handle in a direction opposite the normaldirection of movement required for release of the detent.

We claim:

1. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lock mounted on the door andincluding a lock frame, a detent swingably mounted on the frame formovement between holding and released positions with respect to a boltmounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatchedpositions, and an inside release member movably mounted on the body, thecombination comprising, a remote lever swingably mounted on the frameand operatively connected to the inside release member, a detent releaselever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement with the detent tomove the detent to released position upon swinging movement of theremote lever in one direction relative to the frame, the detent releaselever being engageable by the detent upon movement of the detent by thebolt to swing the detent release lever in an opposite direction relativeto the frame, connecting means selectively and alternately positionablein connecting and disconnecting positions to selectively and alternatelyconnect and disconnect the remote lever and the detent release lever,means operable by the remote lever for positioning the connecting meansin connecting position, and means operable u'pon movement of the releaselever by the detent for position ing the connecting means indisconnecting position.

2. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lock mounted on the door andincluding a lock frame, a detent swingably mounted on the frame formovement between holding and released positions with respect to a boltmounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatchedpositions, and an inside release member movably mounted on the body, thecombination comprising, a remote lever swingably mounted on the frameand operatively connected to the inside release member, a detent releaselever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement with the detent tomove the detent to released position upon swinging movement of theremote lever in one direction relative to the frame, the detent releaselever being engageable by the detent upon movement of the detent by thebolt to swing the detent release lever in an opposite direction relativeto the frame, means connected to the detent release lever andselectively positionable in the path of movement of the remote lever forengagement thereby to selectively connect the remote lever and thedetent release lever, means operable by the remote lever for positioningthe connecting means in the path of movement of the remote lever, andmeans operable upon movement of the release lever by the detent forpositioning the connecting means out of the path of movement of theremote lever.

3. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lock mounted on the door andincluding a lock frame, a detent swingably mounted on the frame formovement between holding and released positions with respect to a boltmounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatchedpositions, and an inside release member movably mounted on the body, thecombination comprising, a remote lever swingably mounted on the frameand operatively connected to the inside release member, a detent releaselever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement with the detent tomove the detent to released position upon swinging movement of theremote lever in one direction relative to the frame, the detent releaselever being engageable by the detent upon movement of the detent by thebolt to swing the detent release lever in an opposite direction relativeto the frame, an abutment member mounted on the release lever formovement therewith and movement relative thereto, a connecting memberoperatively connected to the abutment member means mounting theconnecting member on the frame for selective and alternate movementbetween connecting and disconnecting positions wherein the connectingmember selectively and alternately positions the abutment member in thepath and out of the path of the remote lever, means operable by theremote lever for positioning the connecting member in connectingposition, and means operable upon movement of the release lever by thedetent for positioning the connecting member in disconnecting position.

4. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lock mounted on the door andincluding a lock frame, a detent swingably mounted on the frame formovement between holding and released positions with respect to a boltmounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatchedpositions, and an inside release member movably mounted on the body, thecombination comprising, a remote lever swingably mounted on the frameand operatively connected to the inside release member, a detent releaselever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement with the detent tomove the detent to released position upon swinging movement of theremote lever in one direction relative to the frame, the detent releaselever being engageable by the detent upon movement of the detent by thebolt to swing the detent release lever in an opposite direction relativeto the frame, a connecting link swingably mounted on the detent releaselever and including an abutment member, a connecting member swingablymounted on the lock frame for movement between connecting anddisconnecting positions and including a slot slidably receiving theabutment member to position the abutment member in the path of theremote lever when the connecting member is in connecting position and toposition the abutment member out of the path of the remote lever whenthe connecting member is in disconnecting position, means on the remotelever engageable with the connecting member upon swinging movement ofthe remote lever in one direction to position the connecting member inconnecting position, the remote lever being swingable in an oppositedirection into engagement with the abutment member to move the releaselever and release the detent, movement of the release lever by thedetent moving the connecting member to disconnecting position byengagement of the abutment member with the slot thereof.

1. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lock mounted on the door andincluding a lock frame, a detent swingably mounted on the frame formovement between holding and released positions with respect to a boltmounted on the frame for movement between latched and unlatchedpositions, and an inside release member movably mounted on the body, thecombination comprising, a remote lever swingably mounted on the frameand operatively connected to the inside release member, a detent releaselever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement with the detent tomove the detent to released position upon swinging movement of theremote lever in one direction relative to the frame, the detent releaselever being engageable by the detent upon movement of the detent by thebolt to swing the detent release lever in an opposite direction relativeto the frame, connecting means selectively and alternately positionablein connecting and disconnecting positions to selectively and alternatelyconnect and disconnect the remote lever and the detent release lever,means operable by the remote lever for positioning the connecting meansin connecting position, and means operable upon movement of the releaselever by the detent for positioning the connecting means indisconnecting position.
 2. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lockmounted on the door and including a lock frame, a detent swingablymounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positionswith respect to a bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latchedand unlatched positions, and an inside release member movably mounted onthe body, the combination comprising, a remote lever swingably mountedon the frame and operatively connected to the inside release member, adetent release lever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement withthe detent to move the detent to released position upon swingingmovement of the remote lever in one direction relative to the frame, thedetent release lever being engageable by the detent upon movement of thedetent by the bolt to swing the detent release lever in an oppositedirection relative to the frame, means connected to the detent releaselever and selectively positionable in the path of movement of the remotelever for engagement thereby to selectively connect the remote lever andthe detent release lever, means operable by the remote lever forpositioning the connecting means in the path of movement of the remotelever, and means operable upon movement of the release lever by thedetent for positioning the connecting means out of the path of movementof the remote lever.
 3. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lockmounted on the door and including a lock frame, a detent swingablymounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positionswith respect to a bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latchedand unlatched positions, and an inside release member movably mounted onthe body, the combination comprising, a remote lever swingably mountedon the frame and operatively connected to the inside release member, adetent release lever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement withthe detent to move the detent to released position upon swingingmovement of the remote lever in one direction relative to the frame, thedetent release lever being engageable by the detent upon movement of thedetent by the bolt to swing the detent release lever in an oppositedirection relative to the frame, an abutment member mounted on therelease lever For movement therewith and movement relative thereto, aconnecting member operatively connected to the abutment member meansmounting the connecting member on the frame for selective and alternatemovement between connecting and disconnecting positions wherein theconnecting member selectively and alternately positions the abutmentmember in the path and out of the path of the remote lever, meansoperable by the remote lever for positioning the connecting member inconnecting position, and means operable upon movement of the releaselever by the detent for positioning the connecting member indisconnecting position.
 4. In a vehicle body having a door, a door lockmounted on the door and including a lock frame, a detent swingablymounted on the frame for movement between holding and released positionswith respect to a bolt mounted on the frame for movement between latchedand unlatched positions, and an inside release member movably mounted onthe body, the combination comprising, a remote lever swingably mountedon the frame and operatively connected to the inside release member, adetent release lever swingably mounted on the frame for engagement withthe detent to move the detent to released position upon swingingmovement of the remote lever in one direction relative to the frame, thedetent release lever being engageable by the detent upon movement of thedetent by the bolt to swing the detent release lever in an oppositedirection relative to the frame, a connecting link swingably mounted onthe detent release lever and including an abutment member, a connectingmember swingably mounted on the lock frame for movement betweenconnecting and disconnecting positions and including a slot slidablyreceiving the abutment member to position the abutment member in thepath of the remote lever when the connecting member is in connectingposition and to position the abutment member out of the path of theremote lever when the connecting member is in disconnecting position,means on the remote lever engageable with the connecting member uponswinging movement of the remote lever in one direction to position theconnecting member in connecting position, the remote lever beingswingable in an opposite direction into engagement with the abutmentmember to move the release lever and release the detent, movement of therelease lever by the detent moving the connecting member todisconnecting position by engagement of the abutment member with theslot thereof.